1. Sing - The prophet having largely discoursed of the
sufferings of Christ, and of the blessed fruits thereof, and here
foreseeing that glorious state of the church, he breaks forth into this
song of triumph. And as the foregoing chapter literally speaks of
Christ, so doth this of the church of Christ. This church, consisting at
first of the Jews, and afterwards of the Gentiles, had been barren,
'till the coming of Christ. The desolate - The church of the Gentiles,
which in the times of the Old Testament was desolate, does now bring
forth to God a more numerous posterity than that of the Jews.

2. Enlarge - That it may be capable of the Gentiles, who
shall flock to thee in great numbers. Strengthen - That they may be able
to support that great weight which the tents thus enlarged, shall be
upon them.

3. For - Thou shalt bring forth a multitude of children;
for this word is commonly used of any extraordinary propagation of
living creatures. On the left - On every side, in all the parts of the
world. Thy seed - Thy spiritual seed, the church of the New Testament,
which is accounted Abraham's seed, or children.

4. Ashamed - For the barrenness and widowhood, which once
was the matter of thy grief and shame. Forget - Thou shalt not be
upbraided with thy former barrenness in thy youthful state.

5. Thy maker - Will own thee for his spouse. The Lord -
Who hath the sovereign command of all men and creatures, and therefore
can subdue the Gentiles to thee, and can make thee to increase and
multiply in so prodigious a measure, even in thine old age,
notwithstanding thy barrenness in the days of thy youth, of which he
speaks in the foregoing verse. The God - The God and father of all
nations, whereas formerly he was called only the God of Israel.

6. Called thee - To return to him. As forsaken - When
thou wast like a woman forsaken. And grieved - For the loss of her
husband's favour. Of youth - As affectionately as an husband recalls his
wife which he married in his youth.

7. For a moment - In comparison of God's everlasting
kindness. Gather thee - From all the places where thou art dispersed,
from all parts of the world.

8. With everlasting kindness - With kindness to thee and
thy seed through all succeeding generations.

9. This - This covenant of grace and peace made with thee
shall be as certain and perpetual as that which I made with Noah, that
there should never be another flood to drown the world. Wrath - So as to
forsake thee utterly.

10. The mountains - Shall sooner depart from their places
than any kindness shall depart from thee. The covenant - That covenant
whereby I have made peace and friendship with thee, and have promised to
thee all manner of happiness. God will not cast off his Christian
church, as he cast off the church of the Jews, the New covenant is
established upon better and surer promises than the Old. The Lord - Who
doth this not for thine own merits, but merely for his own grace and
mercy.

11. O thou - Who hast been, in a most afflicted and
comfortless condition. With sapphires - I will make thee exceeding
beautiful and glorious, by a plentiful effusion of excellent gifts, and
graces.

12. Agates - The proper signification of the Hebrew names
of precious stones is unknown to the Jews themselves. It may suffice us
to know that this was some very clear and transparent, and precious
stone. Thy borders - The utmost parts or walls.

13. Taught - Not only outwardly by his word, but inwardly
by his spirit. The peace -

1. Inward peace arising from the clear discoveries of
God's love and reconciliation to us, and wrought by the spirit of
adoption, which is more abundantly given to believers under the gospel,
than under the law.

2. Outward peace, safety, and happiness.

14. Established - Thine affairs shall be managed with
righteousness, which is the glory of any society. Oppression - Either by
thine own governors, or by foreign powers.

15. Behold - It is true some will combine and make an
attempt against thee. But - Without any such commission from me, as
Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar had.

16. The smith - Both the smith that makes warlike
instruments, and the soldier that uses them, are my creatures, and
totally at my command, and therefore they cannot hurt you without my
leave. The waster - To destroy only whom and when I please.

17. Condemn - And I will deliver thee not only from the
fury of war, but also from the strife of tongues. This - This blessed
condition, is the portion allotted them by me. Righteousness - The
reward of their righteousness. Of me - I give it, and I will continue it
to them.